“My, that’s great!” he exclaimed.  “It will take me a long time to get the poison of that cell out of my lungs, and——­”

“The bitterness out of your soul, eh?” Mr. Westcote quietly asked, as Jasper paused.

“Yes, that’s what I was going to say.  But I’m afraid it will be a much harder thing to do.  I’ve been the sport of fools so long that the bitterness of my soul has become a chronic disease.”

“Tut, tut, don’t talk that way any more,” Mr. Westcote chided.  “Jump on board now, and let us be off.  I’ll tell you something that will sweeten your soul and make life worth living.”

To Jasper it seemed almost like a dream as he leaned back and listened to what his companion told him about the net of evidence which had been woven about Sydney Bramshaw.  He did not mention Lois in connection with the affair, but related the incidents of the letter, the threat to Betty Bean, and old David’s narrow escape from the falling log.  He told him also about the two sealed papers, and who David Findley and Sydney Bramshaw really were.

“This is certainly remarkable!” Jasper exclaimed, when Mr. Westcote ceased speaking and took a cigar from his pocket.  “But where is Bramshaw now?” he asked.  “Surely he has not been allowed to escape.”

“Indeed he hasn’t.  He’s in the city jail, that’s where he is.”

“Oh, I see.”  It was all Jasper could say.

“Yes, he was arrested last night as he was about to board the C. P. R. for New York.  His grip was searched and letters of a most incriminating nature were found.  Why, the fellow must be a fool to have kept them with him.  Almost any man in his right mind would have destroyed them at once.”

“How did he take his arrest?” Jasper enquired.

“At first he put up a big bluff and threatened all sorts of things.  But after a night in the lock-up and a thorough grilling this morning, he broke down and begged for mercy.  He was confounded by the net which had been woven about him, and the look of terror in his eyes was really pathetic.”

“And has he confessed to murdering old David?” Jasper eagerly asked.

“Not exactly.  But he has come so near to it that not the shadow of a doubt is left about his guilt.  I believe that he will confess all shortly in the hope that he may escape the death penalty by doing so.”

Jasper remained silent for a while apparently studying the scenery as they sped on their way.  But he saw nothing of tree, flower or rich rolling meadows.  His thoughts were elsewhere, and his next question revealed the working of his mind.

“To whom am I indebted for the collecting of all that valuable evidence?” he questioned.  “Some one must have been very busy.”

“You are indebted to several,” was the reply.  “But Miss Sinclair has been the most active.”

“So I imagined,” was all Jasper said and he once more lapsed into a silence which he did not break until the car drew up before Mr. Westcote’s office.  He knew now that Lois cared for him, and his heart thrilled with joy as he thought of the efforts she had made on his behalf.  How he longed to see her and thank her for what she had done.